Pathways for Aligning Cleaner Production with Planetary Boundaries: Green Innovation, Decarbonization and Circularity in Action
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 147
Special Issue Editors
Interests: sustainability; cleaner production; circular economy; life cycle assessment; energy accounting
Interests: environmental sustainability; energy research; sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: energy; footprints; cleaner production; sustainability models
2. Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Interests: eco-innovation; circularity; industrial decarbonisation; climate resilience; sustainability transformations; business models
Interests: advanced wastewater treatment; integrated water resources management; environmental and sustainability assessments; waste management and valorization in the context of the circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue seeks to gather cutting-edge research and practical insights on how cleaner production strategies can effectively align with the concept of planetary boundaries, emphasizing the role of green innovation, decarbonization, and circular economy in shaping sustainable futures. Inspired by the central theme of the 14th International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production (IWACP), the issue will highlight pathways that reconcile economic development with environmental limits.
As societies face unprecedented sustainability challenges - from climate change and biodiversity loss to resource depletion and social inequality - there is a growing need for systemic approaches that integrate environmental, socio-economic, and technological dimensions. This Special Issue contributes to the core mission of Sustainability by promoting interdisciplinary and solution-oriented research aimed at defining, measuring, and operationalizing sustainability within safe ecological thresholds.
We welcome original articles addressing the design, implementation, and assessment of cleaner production initiatives and circular economy strategies, especially those demonstrating how decarbonization and green innovation can reduce environmental pressures while enhancing social well-being. Emphasis will be placed on tools and metrics that support the quantification of sustainability, including life cycle assessment, eMergy accounting, material flow analysis, and carbon footprinting (including measurement, reporting, and verification for carbon dioxide removal).
This Special Issue also encourages submissions that explore policy instruments, regulatory frameworks, and institutional innovations that facilitate the transition toward sustainability. Contributions should consider how science-based targets, environmental governance, and inclusive decision-making can help bring production and consumption systems aligned with planetary boundaries.
Additionally, the issue aims to disseminate applied research on technologies, business models, and community-based practices that support cleaner and circular solutions across sectors such as industry, infrastructure, agriculture, and urban systems. Integrated approaches that combine technical innovation with social engagement and capacity-building are of particular interest, offering scalable models for transformative change.
By building on the transdisciplinary legacy of IWACP and aligning with Sustainability’s commitment to evidence-based sustainable development, this Special Issue will provide a timely and relevant contribution to the global discourse on designing resilient and equitable pathways within our planet’s ecological limits.
Prof. Dr. Feni Agostinho
Prof. Dr. Biagio F. Giannetti
Prof. Dr. Cecília M. V. B. Almeida
Prof. Dr. Fernando J. Díaz López
Prof. Dr. Carmen Teodosiu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- cleaner production
- planetary boundaries
- circular economy
- decarbonization
- sustainability assessment
- green innovation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
